Steam-boiler low-water signal



C. E. FULLER. STEAMYBOILERLOW WATER SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1920.

Patented oct. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C.- E. FULLER.

' STEAM BOILER LOW WATER SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, 1920.

1,392,682. Patented oet. 4, 1921.

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STEAM-BO LER LOW-WATER SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 16, 1920. Serial No. 374,450.

To @ZZ whom t may con cern Be it known that l, CHARLES E. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing` at Gmaha, in the county of Doug-las and State of Nebraska, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Steam-Boiler Low-Tater Signals, of which the following is a. full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference beingv had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam boiler low water signals. i

One objectof this invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically indicating through audible,visual or other type of signal, the water level in a steamrboilerrwhen the same falls below a predetermined level.

More specilically, the object of this invention is to provide a signaling' apparatus to vindicate the Aheight ofi the water line in a boiler as the latter approaches low water danger mark Vto thereby warn those in charge and responsible for proper maintenance of water level in steam boilers ot a condition existing' within the boiler'which might otherwise escape their attention. y

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a. signaling;V apparatus of the character above indicated which is especially adapted-for locomotives and wherein provision is madeto eliminate temporary conditions resulting from surging of the water and also wherein means are lprovided for automatically compensating for variations in the effectiveness ot the signaling apparatus that might otherwise result fromV the accumulation otl scale. deposits on those parts ot' the apparatus normally immersed in the boiler water.

In the drawings forming apart of this speciiicatio'n, `Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ot a portion ot a locomotive boiler showing my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to the View shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate certain details or the improved construction. And Fig. 3 is a detail sec-V tional view of the sig-nal proper, the saine being 'upon anwenlarged scale and corresponding' substantially to the section. line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Y

In said drawing, 10 denotes the crown sheet ot the locomotive, 11 theV tube sheet and 12 the boiler shell proper, the latter having a reinforcingplate 13 at the top thereof as shown in the drawings. In carrying out my invention, the signaling ap- `paratus will be located adjacent the crown sired form and of suitable material but preferably will be of substantially box-like form open at the top and composed of sheetmetal suitably fabricated. Said casing is arranged to be supported within the boiler by any suitable means such as the brackets 17--17 secured to the boiler shell, said brackets extending toward each other and adapted to be united by a connecting' plate 18, there being interposed between said plate 18 and bracket 1T, blocks 19-19 which may be of any desired thickness so as to provide for vertical adjustment, as will be understood. As clearly shown in Figa 1, the. plate 18, brackets 17 and blocks 19 are securely united by a plurality ofV bolts and nuts ,2W-20. Secured to thecross support just described by the inner set of bolts 20, are two angled plates 21-21 towhich the casing 14 is secured as by bolts 22. as indicated in Fig. 2. An. additional bracing support 23 is employed to help sustain the casing 14, said support being preferably secured at its up per end to theboiler shell as indicated at 24 and to the casing 14.

The float 15 is preferably in thevtorm of a. hollow sealed metallic float and 'is rigidly mounted on a' lever 25 which is pivot-ally mounted on an inverted U-shaped bracket 26 secured to the under Side of the plate 18. by means of adjustable bearings 27 threaded in the depending arms of the bracket 26 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the lever 25 extends through an opening- E28 in the adjacent wall of the casing 14, said opening being such as to permit movement of the lever within the necessary limits. The opposite endet the lever Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

valve shell.

2, is a threaded rod 3Q. the same having a universal joint coiinectionivith an intermediate linlr 33 which in turn is connected by a universal joint to a-spindle 34. The latter extends into a valve casing; 35 pretera-blyV threaded into the boiler shell as indicated in the drawings. The upper end of said. spindle 34 is formed into a conical valve 36 arranged to cooperate with a vertical opening 87 to normally close the latter.

`lhevalve casing 35 is provided with chambers 38, 39, 40, 4l, and 42, the steam enteringf the chamber 38 through .suitable openings 43 in the bottoni` of the casing'. The

Vchambers 39 and 40 are on theunder side andrupper side respectively et the-flexible differential pressure diaphragm 44 and the latterhas a rela-tively minute opening' 45' therethrough so that steam which may leal:

.through into the chamber 39V iii smallquan.-

tit-ies will be permitted to es'apeto the atmosphere through the opening` 46 in the ,A v passage 4'! provides communication vvfroin'the chamber 38 to thev chamber 41it .being understood that the diaphragm 44 is vperforated as indicated at 48 for vthis purpose. NA 'valve 49 is provided-in the upper-part ot tl e casing ABto normally pre- ,40 i depending vstein V 50 slidable in a Vsuitable vent passage ot steam from the chamber 4l to the. chamber 42, said valve 49 having a `@guideprovided in the casing', the loivei end ot said stein normally bearing,` on or being located in close proximity to the diaphragm 44. passage 51 provides communicationV from the chamber42 to the VWhistle proper 52.

A suitableguidina bracket 53 is provided for the connections from the float tothe whistle and smallopeniiigs 54 are provided preferably iii the bottom oif the casing` 14 for the purpose hereinafter described..v

In' carrying out my invention, the float and associated parts ivill be located a desired height above the croivn sheet or other surface to-beprotected'from the lire, the float being normally immersed in the Water, the normal. level of which is indicated by the Water line 55 in Fig. 2.

From the preceding descrij be seen,v that when the lloat l5l is held in itsV uppermost position,- the needle valve 36 will close the passage 37 and it by any .chance a slight amount et steam shonld'escape into the chamber 39, the opening 45l jectcd to such temporary itionpit ivill` Vset up in the device andunitorinity and acwill permit relieil se as to prevent actuation that the boiler steam pressure ivill be on the top of the valve'49 and hence prevent escape of steam to the Whistle. Then the Water level falls to a predetermined miniinnin, thefloat l5 Will obviously drop and Withdraw the needle valve 376 so as to subject the under side oil-the Yiiexible diaphragm to the boilersteampressure and on account ot the greater area of the diaphragm than that of the valve 49, the latter ivill be elevated from its seat and steam allowed to iloiv to and operate the whistle proper 52, thus giving audible Warning` to neer infycharge that the Water either reached Oris approaching level. A f

l In the case ot a locomotive ivhichis subject'to translation, it is evident that there will be surging,- ot the Water from time to level has an unsafe time andv to overcome the effects et'V these momentary conditions and prevent temporary undesired operation or" the Whistle, the casing i4 is provided as hereinbeiiore described. lt is evident that the bottom open- 1 Y tne engiings 54,thereiii will permit correspondence ol they-rater level Within the casing with that oiitside thereof.I and during` surging, theivat-er VWithin the casing` will'n'ot Vbe subispla einents.

is is Well known by these Who operate boilers, :practically all boiler vWaters contaiii'matters in solution'wliich are deposited. iii the i'orm ofi scale on all parts coveredbv the Water and hence the float l5 and immediately associated parts Within the iva'- teito the right hand side of the pivot point will gradually'beconie heavier and, itnot coniiteracted or neutralized, ivill sooner or later canse the iioatV to sink or assume'a lower position than initially providedior. lt is to overcome this effect oi? the gradual accumulation 'ot scalefon the yfloatand its immediately associated. parts, thatV l proride the neutralizing plates 29. The numier and area of the plates 29 subject toscale formation will be soV adjusted that Vtheir area in conjunction with the area oi the ad-V jacent lever arnntim'cs the averaged lever arm on the plate side oi the pivot is equal to the area et the iloat audits immediately associated parts, times the averaged leverv curacy oi operationr are thereby insured. This leature oit my invention lconsider of major importance since by it I have overcome detects present iii various other types of low water alarms heretofore employed and which have not given success.

bis will be-obvious to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications-may be made in the details of constr ction, as for instance in obtaining the cou-nterbalanced or neutralizing area-moments and in the signaling device proper. I contemplate all such changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

l claim :V

l. ln a water level signaling apparatus, the combination with a signaling device; of a member subject toscale formation from the water; operative connections between said signaling device and member by which the signaling device is adapted to be affected in accordance with the position of the member; and means, similarly subject to scale formation from the water arranged to neutralize accumulation of scalel deposits on said member.

2. ln a boiler low water signal, the combination with a pivotally mounted member adapted to'be maintained in its highest position by the boiler water when of a predetermined depth or greater and to fall when theboiler water drops below said predetermined depth; of a signal including a diiien ential pressure-controlled valve subject to boiler steam pressure and a second valve; and operative connections between said second valve and member, said signal being normally maintained in a condition indicative of safety when said member is in its said highest position, said second valve being positively actuated, through said connections, to produce an abnormal condition indicative of danger when said member is permitted to fall.

3. In a boiler low water signal, the combination witha movably mounted member adapted to be maintained in its highest position by the boiler water when the latter is of a predetermined depth or greater and to fall when the water drops below said predetermined depth; of a signaling device including, a whistle, a differential pressurecontrolled diaphragm, a valve adapted to close communication from the interior of the boiler to one side of said diaphragm and a second valve normally closingvconnnunication from the interior of the boiler to the whistle, said second named valve being sub* ject to action of said diaphragm to open said second named valve when the lat-ter is subjected to the boiler steam pressure; and link and rod connections between said member and said first namedv valve arranged to positively hold the latter in closed position when said member is lin its highest position.

4. In a boiler water level signal, the combination with a signaling device, a float, and operative connections between said float and signaling device by vwhich the conditionV of the latter is affected in accordance with the position of the float, said float boing normally immersed in the boiler water; of means, normally also immersed in the boiler water, cooperating with said float and arranged to act in opposition to the weight of the float, said means and float, with the respective parts associated therewith, comprising substantially equalized area-moments subject to scale formation whereby the effective buoyancy of the float is maintained in use.

5. In a boiler low water signaling apparatus, the combination with a signaling device, a lloat subject to scale formation from the boiler water, and operative connections between said signaling device and float by which the signaling device is adapted to be affected in accordance with the position ofthe float; and means, similarly subject to scale formation from the boiler water, arranged to neutralize accumulation of scale deposits on the float.

6. ln a water level signaling apparatus for boilers subject to translation, the com-y bination with a signaling device proper; of a member arranged to be maintained in elevated position by the boiler water when the latter is of a predetermined depth or greater and to fall when the water drops below said predetermined depth; operative connections between said signaling device and member and by which the signaling device is af fected in accordance with the position of said member; and a casing within which said member is disposed, said casing being disposed within the main body of boiler Water Vand having restricted openings therein providing for relatively retarded passage of the water from the exterior to the interior thereof and viceversa, said restricted openings preventing emptying of the casing and fluctuation of said member when the level of the main body of boiler water outside thereof temporarily falls resulting from surging.

7. In a water level signaling apparatus for boilerssubject to translation, such as a locomotive boiler, the combination with a signaling device proper; of a float normally immersedin the boiler water; operative connections between said float and the signaling device proper and by which the condition of the latter is affected in accordance with the level of the float; a lever of' the first class on one end of which said float is mounted; a baffle casing surrounding said float and also disposed within the boiler water,

immersed in the boiler Water,V the effective scale deposit receiving arewmoments on one side of the pivot of the lever substantially equalizing the scale deposit receiving area- 5 moments of the lever on the opposite side of its pivot.

In Witness` that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES E. FULLER. Witnesses: Y

H. VAN ARSDALE, B. H. BERGER. 

